Clay Bodies: A Group Exhibition of Figural Ceramic Sculpture

Barry Friedman Ltd. is pleased to present “Clay Bodies” featuring the figurative sculpture of 10 artists from 5 different countries, running in tandem with the Museum of Arts and Design’s opening fall exhibition “Body & Soul, New International Ceramics” (9/17/13 – 3/2/14). “Clay Bodies” will open with a public reception at Barry Friedman Gallery on Thursday, September 19, from 6-8pm.

Contemporary figurative sculpture, often tough in appearance and with narrative content, deals with current social, political, and cultural issues, and more pointedly the environment, sexuality, gender, and assimilation. These common threads are apparent in the sculptures of these ac- complished international artists. While the intent of some is quite apparent, many of the works have obscure narratives that the viewer is left to define.

Often called an erotic Surrealist for his daring representations of sexuality, relationships, and human encounter, Sergei Isupov takes narrative subject matter and merges it with ceramic sculptural form. The bold color palette, heavily tattooed faces, and textured surfaces relate these works to the aesthetics of traditional Russian art, as well as to contemporary styles of illustration.